Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday released Rs 6,419 crore under the third tranche of the YSR Asara scheme, benefiting 74.94 lakh women.
Under the Asara scheme, outstanding bank loans of eligible women’s self-help groups will be written off to enable them to get back on their feet.
Reddy released these funds at the click of a button, reiterating that the state government will continue to work towards the educational, social, economic and political empowerment of women.
He noted that the southern state has spent up to Rs 2.25 lakh for women’s welfare through various schemes such as Amma Vodi, Cheyuta, Kapu Nestam, EBC Nestam, Vidya Devena and others.
More than 9.8 million women have started their own business units such as shops, poultry farms, food processing units, vegetable shops and others through the Asara scheme, the Chief Minister said.
Apart from collaborating with corporates like L&T, Reliance, P&G, ITC, Amul and Mahindra to help women self-help groups become entrepreneurs, the government has also forced banks to reduce interest rates from 7 per cent to 9 per cent from 13 per cent and is also working to reduce them further, the chief minister said.
Apart from the Asar Plan, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for several development activities such as the Rs 69-crore lift irrigation and drinking water project at Jagannadapuram in Pedavegi Mandal, which will supply drinking water to 42 villages.